RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Maladaptive coping strategies and neuroticism mediate the relationship between 5HTT-LPR polymorphisms and symptoms of anxiety in elite athletes
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 493320
DO 10.1101/493320
A1 Mario Altamura
A1 Salvatore Iuso
A1 Giovanna D’Andrea
A1 Francesca D’Urso
A1 Carla Piccininni
A1 Eleonora Angelini
A1 Francesco Sessa
A1 Maurizio Margaglione
A1 Caterina Padulo
A1 Beth Fairfield
A1 Annamaria Petito
A1 Antonello Bellomo
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/12/14/493320.abstract
AB Previous studies have suggested that genetic factors, personality traits and coping strategies might play independent and interacting roles in influencing stress-related anxiety symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine whether Neuroticism and maladaptive coping strategies mediate the association between the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5HTT-LPR) and symptoms of anxiety and depression in elite athletes who experience high levels of competitive stress. One hundred and thirty-three participants were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism and then asked to complete the Cope Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. A path analysis was used to test the aforementioned hypothesis. The 5HTT-LPR was significantly associated with Neuroticism, the coping strategy of Focus on and Venting of Emotions’ (FVE) and symptoms of anxiety. FVE and Neuroticism mediated the association between the 5HTT-LPR and symptoms of anxiety (i.e., Cognitive Anxiety and Emotional Arousal Control). Also, Neuroticism was a mediator of the association between the 5HTT-LPR and FVE. Finally, FVE also mediated effects on the relationship between Neuroticism and symptoms of anxiety. Results suggest that the 5HTT-LPR may affect the susceptibility to develop symptoms of anxiety in elite athletes indirectly through mediation by FVE and Neuroticism.